Freight-carrier.



No. 834,822. PATENTED OCT. 30, 1906.

T. w. L'INGARD.

FREIGHT CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14. 1905.-

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PATENTED 001'. 30,1906.

T. W. LINGARD FREIGHT CARRIER. APPLIOATIOII'IILED nov, 14. 1905.

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PATENTED O GT. 30,1906.

No. 834,822. v T. w. LINGA RD.

' FREIGHT CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 14 1906 a SHEET8BHEET a.

THOMAS WM. LINGARD, OF OAK GROVE, ALABAMA.

FREIGHT-CARRIERr Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 19cc.

Application filed November 14 1905. Serial No. 287,283.

To all whom it may concern}- Be it known that I, THOMAS WM. LINGARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Grove, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Freight-Carriers, of which the following is a'specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 2

This invention relates to carriers which are hung on and travel upon an elevated traction-way,such as a track or cable, for the purpose of conveying freight and other material; and the invention provides a device of this character which shall have any'or all of the following advantageous features: The traction device is so constructed as to greatly reduce friction between it and the supporting track or cable. Effective means are embodiedinthe device whereby the carrier is steadied, both while in motion and While at rest. The carrier is so constructed as to afford efficient and easily-operated means for loading and unloading the material carried. The load is retained on the carrier by an arrangement which positively retains the same and which is readily operable to dump orrelease the load. Means are provided whereby friction of movement of the load grasping and retaining means is materially reduced. The carrier affords means for carrying material which heretofore it has been commonly necessary to transfer by hand in loading and unloading vessels, cars, and the like.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts contemplated by this invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein is shown, for purposes of illustration, an embodiment of the invention in a carrier adapted for transporting bananas.

Like reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front view. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, on the line as x and looking in direction of arrows, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the traction device on the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view showing the traction device as susceptible of use on a cable. Fig. 5 is a view of one of the guides, and Fig. 6 is illustrative of the manner of supporting certain kinds of material preparatory to being transferred by the carrler.

Having reference more particularly to the drawings, a traction-way 11 .is provided for supporting the carrier. The traction-way may be either an elevated track, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5, or it may be a suspended cable, as shown in Fig. 4.

The carrier proper is hung from the t'raction-way by a traction device 12, which travels thereon; Traction device 12 includes upright members 13 and a connecting portion 14 at the bottom, whereby an inverted substantially U-sha ed frame is formed. Offsets 15 are attached to members 13 or made integral therewith near their upper ends and on their facing surfaces. A shaft .16 is secured in each member 13 and its offset 15, and on each of said shafts is'journaled a traction-whee 117, the two wheels being complementary and capable of travel on traction-Way 11.

Vertical shafts 18 are disposed between offsets 15 and member 14 on each side of traction-way 11, and on said shafts are rollers 19, which have contact with the sides of said traction-way, reduce friction, and steady the device. Horizontal shafts 20 are secured in members 13 and below traction-way 11, and these shafts carry rollers 21, which enage the bottom of traction-way 11 for a function similar to that of rollers 19.

When a cable is used to support the device, as shown in Fig. 4, rollers 19 are disensed with and but one traction-wheel will be employed, for obvious reasons.

An arm or shaft 22 of member 14 in line of and beneath tractionway 11. Near each end of arm 22 is attached a guide 23. Projecting upwardly from guide 23 and arranged one on each side of the traction-way are standards 24, 5

carrying friction-rollers 25, which are engageable by the traction-way. Supported in each pair of standards 24 is' a shaft 26, carrying a friction-roller 27, engageable by the under part of the traction-way. A plu- 10o rality of apertures or seats 28 are formed in standards 24 for the reception of shaft 26 in order that the height of the same can be varied at will. Guides 23 constitute means in addition to traction device 12 for steadying 105 the carrier on the traction-way. The carrier proper is hung on arm 22 by bails 29, haying slots 30 in their upper ortions for removable attachment to said s aft. Bails 29 are attached to the approximately no projects from each side 0 U-shaped side members 31 of the carrier, these members being connected by transverse rods 32 and having raised portions 31.

Grasper members 33 of substantially U- shaped construction and connected by transverse rods 34 are supported between members 31 by staples 3 1 having friction-rollers 35 thereon, two staples being provided for each member 33, one attached to the upper arm of member 31 and supporting the upper arm of member 33 and one attached to the lowerarm of member 31 and supporting the lower arm of member 33. By this arrangement a load-grasper is formed which is capable of being shoved outwardly and tilted and drawn inwardly, when it will resume its approximately horizontal position and rest partially on lower rods 32. Upwardlyro ecting lugs or points 36 are attached to t 1e outer ends of the lower arms of members 33 for the puigpose of engaging and retaining a load on sai arms. These lugs by engagement with staples 341 also serve to limit the retractive movement of the load-gras er, and extended movement of the same is fimited by the U- shaped formation of the grasper.

Pivotally attached to bails 29 is a grasperretaining device 37, formed with a crossiece and upwardly-extending parallel arms. hen the grasper is in retraetive position, it is engaged at raised portion 31 by the crossiece and retained in that position. The free ends of retainer 37 are provided with upwardly-extending arms 38, which clamp against guides 23, and with upwardly-extending arms 39, each having a notch 40 in its end which seats against arm 22. A pin 41 depends from the bottom of each guide 23 and is engaged by the arms of retainer 37. By engagement of the arms of the retainer with the guides and arm the carrier is steadied in an obvious manner. When it is desired to shove the-grasper outwardly to release a load or secure another load, the operator swings the free ends of the arms of the retainer downwardly, whereby the same is disengaged from the grasper and from the guides and arm 22. In its upward move ment the cross-piece of the retainer will engage a catch 12, attached to the rear of the traction device, whereby the carrier will be steadied while the grasper is in outward position.

Fig. 6

orting is illustrative of the manner of supbananas or other depending material for transfer by the carrier. The depending material is hung on a beam 43,wh1ch is supported on a frame 4 1. The operator moves the carrier in proximity to the frame, extends the grasper, and engages the beam thereby and then retracts the grasper, whereby the beam is lifted and held on the carrier. The load is released by a reversal of this operation.

It is obvious that to the lower arms of grasper members 33 scoo )S, buckets. or other similar devices may e attached for handling material in bulk or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A carrier comprising stationary frame members, lower extensible arms thereon, upper extensible arms connected for simultaneous movement with said lower arms, and means whereby movement of said arms is limited.

2. A carrier comprising stationary U- shaped frame members, movable U-shaped grasper members thereon for grasping a load, and means whereby movement of said grasper members is limited.

3. A carrier comprising stationary U-- shaped frame members, movable grasper members thereon for grasping a load, and lugs on the ends of the lower arms of said grasper members for engaging the load.

1. A carrier comprising U-shaped frame members, movable U-shaped. grasper members, and staples attached to the arms of said frame members through which said grasper members are movable.

5. A carrier comprising U-shaped frame members, movable U-shaped grasper members, staples attached. to the arms of said frame members, and friction-rollers on said staples between which said grasper members are movable.

6. A carrier comprising traction means, U-

U-shaped shaped frame members connected therewith,

Ushaped retractive grasper members attached to said frame members, and means engaging said grasper members and said traction means whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said earrier steadied.

7. A carrier comprising traction means having extended guides, frame members connected with said traction means, retractive grasper members attached to said frame members, and means engaging said grasper members and said guides whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said carrier steadied.

8. A carrier comprising traction means having extended guides, frame members connected with said traction means, retractive grasper members attached to said frame members, and retaining means engaging said grasper members and said guides whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said carrier steadied, said means comprising pivoted arms one on each side of said frame members, and a link connecting opposite ends of said arms for contact with said grasper members.

9. A carrier comprising traction means having extended guides, frame members connected with said traction means, retraetive grasper members attached to said. frame members, and retaining means engaging said grasper members and said guides whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said carrier steadied, said means comprising pivoted arms one on each side of said frame members, a link connecting opposite ends of said arms for contact with said gras er members, and extended portions on the rec ends of said arms for clamping against said guides.

10. A carrier comprising a traction device having extended guides, frame members connected with; said traction device, retractive grasper members attached to said frame members, and retaining means engaging said grasper members and said guides whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said carrier steadied, said means comprising pivoted arms one on each side of said frame members, and a link connecting opposite ends of said arms for contact with said-grasper members, and means on said traction device for engagement by said link when the same is in upward position whereby said carrier is steadied members are extended.

11. A carrier comprising a traction device having extended guides, frame members connected with said traction device, retractive grasper members attached to said frame members, and retaining means engaging said grasper members and said guides whereby said grasper members are held in retractive position and said carrier steadied, said means comprising pivoted arms one on each side of said frame members, and a link connecting opposite ends of said arms for contact with said grasper members, and a catch on. said traction device for engagement by said link when the same is in u ward position whereby said carrier is stea ied when said grasper when said grasper members are extended.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WM. LINGARD. Witnesses:

B. E. JARRETT, F. H. STANARD. 

